Convertible food bag

ABSTRACT

The invention provides for sanitary consumption of a meal including a bagged sandwich and makes it easier for consumers to eat while using condiments. Once opened along the perforations, the opened bag creates three separate surfaces, two flat surfaces on each end and a bowl located at its center. The bowl creates a safe location to securely store condiments while consuming the food item.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to food packaging. The invention further provides the consumer to use the packaging as an aid to safely and securely consume the food with a contained space for condiments.

BACKGROUND

For convenient fast foods vendors, packaging of sandwiches is critically important. Today more than ever, food vendors have created distinct food packaging containers that provide brand recognition to the consumer. One of the more popular styles of packaging is to place the food item, usually a sandwich or handheld food substance in a bag, instead of a container or box. The sandwich bag is more beneficial than a box or rigid container in that it stores easier prior to use, does not require any additional preparation to form it and is easier to install insulation to prevent loss of heat. Notwithstanding all of these benefits, the sandwich bag fails to address two major failures. It does not provide a space to contain condiments and it does not provide a safe and sanitized location to place the food item. There is a need to address both of those major concerns.

There is a need for a food bag that increases health safety, reduces garbage, improves consumer use of condiments with a meal, and decreases the risk of spilling or cross contamination that occurs with using condiments.

Known sandwich bags have substantial failings. While these prior bags have improved the internal layers of the bag to retain heat or even made the opening of the bag larger for easier access, all of the current sandwich bags completely ignore the most commonly paired element with the food item, i.e. condiments. For example, existing sandwich bags fail to provide an easily accessible location to secure the condiment without requiring the consumer to either use the dirty exterior of the bag or create more trash. The above failure has resulted in consumer frustrations related to placing condiments in improper locations which causes a mess and cross contamination with other foods.

Moreover, known sandwich bags do not create a method for the consumer to use the clean inside of the package, which is more sanitary than the outside, to place the food while consuming it.

Known condiment packages also fall far short to addressing the problem. Known condiment companies have attempted to address concerns with condiment consumption by creating packages with option for the consumer to either squirt the condiment out or allow the consumer to dip the food item into a container. The classic option of squirting out the condiment from the packet still leaves the consumer to guess where to place the condiment during consumption, which regrettably is usually the less sanitized outside of the sandwich bag or some new piece of trash, like a perishable plate, napkin, or container surface. In regards to the dipping package option, this has only created more problems for the consumer. For example, when a consumer attempts to remove the food item from the dipping condiment container, unless another hand is used to secure the container, the food item will cause the container to lift up with the food. The container then falls from the lifted position and spills the contents everywhere. Moreover, when the consumer is finished with the container, it is left wide open with no method to reseal the package. There is a need to address both of these failures.

SUMMARY

The invention provides for sanitary consumption of a meal including a bagged sandwich and makes it easier for consumers to eat while using condiments. Once opened along the perforations, the opened bag creates three separate surfaces, two flat surfaces on each end and a bowl located at its center. The bowl creates a safe location to securely store condiments while consuming the food item. An added reinforced ring, located at the top of the bowl's circumference can add stability and control over the condiments placed inside.

As most fast food meals are served with a sandwich and condiments, the need for a sandwich bag to address these needs for the consumer without adding more trash, is important for the consumer but also the environment. Keeping in mind that most consumers when eating fast food are eating while on the go and do not have access to plates or other items to properly lay out the food for consumption.

Moreover, most consumer sandwich bags do not provide an easy way for the consumer to use the inside of the package wrapping, which is more sanitary compared with the outside, that is being touched and handled by the restaurant. The goal of highlighting the use of the inside of the bag, to place their food and condiments, creates a healthier way to consume the food and lessen cross contamination.

The invention would be applicable to a sandwich bag that has a single opening on one end, sealed along the sides and bottom of the bag. The bag could have a “V”, “U” or squared off bottom shape for this invention to apply. It could also have “V”, “U” or squared off sides to apply as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be given to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the perforated bag from the front in its unopened state.

FIG. 2 illustrates the perforated bag from the side in three different bottom shaped bags: V shape, U shape, and square shape.

FIG. 3 illustrates the perforated bag in its fully opened state in three different bottom shaped bags: V shape, U shape, and square shape.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the bag in an opened state.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

While one or more embodiments may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular form disclosed, but to the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates the perforated bag from the front in its unopened state. The left perforation side of the bag 1 is further designated by way of a dashed line. The right perforation side of the bag 2 is further designated by way of a dashed line. A reinforced ring 3 is further designated by a solid line with diagonally running lines throughout. The lower exterior front portion of the bag 4 forms the bowl of the bag. The upper exterior of the bag 5 forms the bottom of the table mat when the bag is in an opened state.

FIG. 2 illustrates the perforated bag from the side in three different bottom shaped bags: V shape, U shape, and square shape. The right portion of the side of the exterior of the bag 6 is framed in by the perforated edge and the upper exterior of the bag 5. The left portion of the side of the exterior of the bag 7 is framed in by the perforated edge and the upper exterior of the bag 5. The lower exterior side portion of the bag 8 forms the bowl of the bag.

FIG. 3 illustrates the perforated bag in its fully opened state in three different bottom shaped bags: V shape, U shape, and square shape. The upper interior portion of the bag 9 forms the top half of the table mat when the bag is in an opened state. The upper interior portion of the bag 10 forms the bottom half of the table mat when the bag is in its opened state. The interior portion of the bowl 11 is formed when the bag is in an opened state.

In a preferred embodiment, starting at the open end of the sandwich bag and continuing along the middle of the two sides, a perforation in the material continues down the length of the bag as shown in FIG. 1 but will not continue down the entire length of the bag. Depending upon the size of the bag, the perforation stops at approximately ¾ to ⅞ down the sandwich bag as shown in FIG. 1.

At the point where the perforation stops, a reinforcement ring may be installed around the circumference of the bag as shown in FIG. 1. The ring may be one continuous strip or may have breaking points at the folding points of the bag. This can be done several different ways and with a number of different materials, which would be dependent upon the material selected for the bag to which this invention would apply. The ring preferably has rigidity so it will hold a form if pinched or pulled apart. For example, a cylinder metal wire may be at the ring center.

If the bag has U or squared shaped sides, additional perforations are recommended that run parallel and adjacent with the ring on the sides of the bag, but do not extend over the front or back portions of the bag. This allows the bag to open more freely to access the bowl formation at its center.

Depending upon the end user, the ring may be weak or strong. A weak ring may cost and weigh less, but will provide less support. A strong ring may allow the end user to squeeze the ring together to form a makeshift seal to help prevent remaining condiment from spilling out, once ready to discard.

The ring creates a sturdy stopping point for the consumer to feel resistance when pulling apart along the perforated edges. The ring forms the top of the bowl formation created at the base of the opened bag as shown in FIG. 3.

Once the bag is opened along the perforated edges, there are two flat surfaces on opposite ends as shown in FIG. 3 to place the sandwich and any other item being consumed. At its center, between the two flattened surfaces, a bowl is formed for the consumer to place desired condiments as shown in FIG. 3. The consumer may pour the condiment directly into the bowl or simply put one of the single serving condiment containers in the bowl as a holding base. This helps prevent the container from moving while the consumer accesses the condiment.

On both interior flattened sides of the opened bag as shown in FIG. 3, the bag can be left blank or customized with art, advertising, an inspirational message, or direction on how to use the bag. For example, one side of the opened bag may contain a circle or square depending on type of sandwich with the statement “place sandwich here” and the other side may have the company logo or message to be delivered to the consumer.

In addition, the center bowl may also be left blank or contain additional customized art, advertising, inspirational messages or directions on how to use the space. For example, the center may be an entirely different color than the remaining parts of the interior of the bag and include a statement saying “Place condiments here” or “Feed me condiments!” The center bowl keeps the condiment contained and reduces risk of spilling.

All publications and patent documents cited in this application are incorporated by reference in pertinent part for all purposes to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent document were so individually denoted. By citation of various references in this document, Applicants do not admit any particular reference is “prior art” to their invention. It is to be appreciated that the foregoing Detailed Description section, and not the Abstract section, is intended to be used to interpret the claims. The Abstract section may set forth one or more, but not all, exemplary embodiments of the present invention as contemplated by the inventor(s), and thus, is not intended to limit the present invention and the appended claims in any way.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments should fully reveal the general nature of the invention so that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention.

Moreover, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary and illustrative embodiments, but should similarly be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiment of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. From the foregoing, it will be seen that this application is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A convertible food bag comprising: material formed into the shape of a bag having a front, back, sides, bottom, and top, lateral perforations extending from the top towards the bottom ending before the bottom, wherein tearing the perforations provides two flat surfaces and a bowl.
 2. The convertible food bag of claim 1 further comprising a reinforcement ring near the bottom of the bag to which the perforations extend.
 3. The convertible food bag of claim 2 wherein the reinforcement ring is paper.
 4. The convertible food bag of claim 2 wherein the reinforcement ring is metal.
 5. The convertible food bag of claim 2 wherein the reinforcement ring is plastic.
 6. The convertible food bad of claim 1 wherein the perforations are on the sides of the bag.
 7. The convertible food bag of claim 6 further comprising a reinforcement ring near the bottom of the bag to which the perforations extend.
 8. The convertible food bag of claim 7 wherein the reinforcement ring is paper.
 9. The convertible food bag of claim 7 wherein the reinforcement ring is metal.
 10. The convertible food bag of claim 7 wherein the reinforcement ring is plastic.
 11. The convertible food bag of claim 7 further comprising parallel perforations on the sides adjacent to the ring. 